By Lucas Hill-Paul
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Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are two of the most iconic collaborators in Hollywood, starring and co-writing everything from historical epics to laugh out loud comedies. The pair are set to reunite again for upcoming thriller The Rip, which is directed by The Grey’s Joe Carnahan and follows a police raid that erupts into chaos when millions of dollars are found at a stash house. Starring a stellar supporting cast that also includes Steven Yeun and Kyle Chandler, it’s one of Netflix’s most anticipated new films and will arrive on the platform next January. Affleck and Damon have collaborated on at least 15 projects together over the years, both as co-stars and producers. From their earliest Hollywood roles to their latest hit releases, here are five of their best films ranked. Although the pair don’t have major roles in this beloved baseball classic, this heartwarming fantasy-drama led by Kevin Costner is too iconic not to include. It also marks their first on-screen collaboration. While many fans won’t have realised, Affleck and Damon actually appear amongst a crowd of 3,000 extras during a scene filmed at Fenway Park. One five-star Google review called it “one of the most inspirational movies of all time, and it tells an incredible story for those who all dare to dream.” And another wrote: “This movie is so poignant it’s almost heartbreaking. Beautiful story of missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams and this chance to make it right. Everyone is great.” A passion project that was years in the making, Good Will Hunting was initially conceived as a thriller while Damon was writing it as part of a playwriting class at Harvard University. He later developed it into a screenplay with the help of his close friend Affleck, evolving the story into an inspirational tale of a genius student bonding with his MIT professor, Dr. Sean Maguire, played brilliantly by Robin Williams. One rave review called it “a thought-provoking emotional film on so many levels”. And another said: “Good Will Hunting is an absolute masterpiece.” Good Will Hunting is available to stream on Netflix. During their earlier Hollywood years, Affleck and Damon were frequent collaborators of Clerks director Kevin Smith, appearing in several of his biggest films. Arguably the most memorable of these off-the-wall indie comedies is Dogma, a hilarious religious satire about two fallen angels trying to return to Heaven that triggered a major controversy for poking fun at the Catholic church. The backlash continues even to this day, with one review from earlier this year ranting: “It wasn’t a comedy, it’s purely vile aggression to all things Holy. “Anyone with half a brain in their head would do well to avoid this garbage at all costs.” After their careers took off in the 2000s, Damon and Affleck slowed down their collaborations as they took on more solo projects such as the Bourne franchise and hit thriller Gone Girl. Thankfully for fans, they’ve already reunited a couple of times in the 2020s in the lead-up to The Rip, including in the biographical sports film Air, based on the origins of Nike’s Air Jordan line of sneakers which saved the company. Affleck directed the film as well as starring as Nike co-founder Phil Knight while Damon portrays marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro. Many fans have praised the nostalgic feel of the 1980s-set drama, with one fan saying it “really captured the sports and cultural atmosphere of America in 1984. “It’s a clever, laid back, enjoyable dramedy that had me laughing and smiling the whole way through,” they added. “This is one you should definitely check out.” Air is available to stream on Prime Video. Probably Affleck and Damon’s darkest film together, The Last Duel also could be their best. Released in 2021, this Ridley Scott-directed historical epic features Damon as a knight in medieval France who challenges his former friend Jacques le Gris (Adam Driver) to a brutal fight to the death when his wife Marguerite (Jodie Comer) accuses Jacques of assaulting her. Affleck and Damon co-wrote the script along with Nicole Holofcener, with Affleck taking on the role of the cruel Count Pierre d’Alençon. One five-star review lavished The Last Duel with praise: “This is wonderful! Best historical/action film for a decade. A must see.” Another review called it even better than Scott’s historical masterpiece Gladiator, adding “The Last Duel is a thrilling cinematic spectacle. “A gripping exercise in perspective/POV’s, and fascinating story which is based on a true medieval epic. Can’t believe Ridley Scott directed this ambitious project at the age of 83.” The Last Duel is available to stream on Disney+. The Rip will be released 16th January on Netflix.
